CYPARISSUS IN GREEK MYTHOLOGY
The story of Cyparissus in Greek mythology, is an example of transformation to explain the existence of a plant or tree; for, from Cyparissus, came the Cypress tree.
Cyparissus of Ceos
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Cyparissus was a handsome youth, who some say was a resident of Ceos, one of the Cyclades. The beauty of Cyparissus would attract the attention of the god Apollo, and soon Apollo and Cyparissus became lovers.
Apollo would present Cyparissus with a magnificent stag as a sign of affection, and this stag became a pet of the handsome youth and was tame enough to be even ridden by Cyparissus. |
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One day though, Cyparissus was partaking in a hunt when he accidentally threw his javelin at the stag killing it.
Cyparissus - Sebastien Norblin (1796-1894) - PD-art-100
The Transformation of Cyparissus
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Cyparissus was overcome with grief, and he prayed to Apollo that he might be allowed to mourn forever; Apollo cautioned him against such a request, but still Cyparissus grieved, and so a sympathetic Apollo transformed him into a cypress tree.
Today, it can be observed that the sap of the cypress tree runs down its trunk like tears. As with cases of transformation in Greek mythology, the main source for the story of Cyparissus comes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses, though there are other versions of the tale, although details vary only in the name of the lover of Cyparissus, with both Zephyrus and Silvanus being a substitute for Apollo. |
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Cyparissus - Jacopo Vignali (1592–1664) - PD-art-100
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Colin Quartermain - Cyparissus - 25th September 2021